For all the posts in the Chasing Waterfalls Series, go here.
Prologue: Inspired by the 2021 Hallmark romantic movie Chasing Waterfalls started my own blog, featuring the local waterfalls in the State of Connecticut where I live, and also may be any waterfalls that I might come across in my trips around America and the World. The film was released in July, as part of their “Spring Fling” lineup. The lead actress, Cindy Busby, plays the part of Amy Atwater, a photo journalist who goes to a remote town to find a mythical waterfall. Her co-star Christopher Russell, plays the part of Mark North, the guide at the lodge where she stays in while visiting the town.
Now I am chasing these majestic and gorgeous waterfalls. Next up is the Hidden Waterfall in Block Island, Rhode Island.
From the time I started this series, whenever I visit a place I look for an opportunity to go a see any of the local waterfalls. So naturally when I was in Block Island during this past summer, I tried to find a waterfall. Considering it being a small island I didn’t expect any, but was pleasantly surprised to find a hidden waterfall; more like an overflow of water under a culvert.
It is literally hidden, with no easy access to go to it. Yet you can hear it rushing under all that thick vegetation.
This more than 100 year old brick culver was built under Old Town Road. The water from Mill Pond on the one side flows underneath the culvert and cascades down over a small ledge of rocks before continuing as a stream. By the arched style of the brickwork, it was guessed to have been built in the 1880s.
Measures have been tried to be put in to clear a path and way for people to walk down on the side of the culver to the bottom to see the waterfall. Unfortunately nothing was seen, and there is lot of underbrush and heavy growth of plants for us to see the waterfall clearly. If only I had my hiking boots or even regular boots, I could have ventured down further to see it.
There is a headstone / plaque kind of thing on the side of the culvert that was placed in 1942 by Block Island Historical Society marking the site of the Old Mill and Garrison Stone House of James and Sarah Sands. Apparently it was established in 1661 but there is nothing but this stone now on that site.
A hidden waterfall that truly is hidden by nature, but can be heard clearly as you pass by. A real gem of a find for me on my first trip to this beautiful island. Perhaps next year I will make the trip again, this time with hiking books so I can capture the waterfall as well.
Galavant Reflections 